J

An order of the court in a family relations court case in which
one or both of the following are provided:
1. That the children live with one parent part of the time and with the other parent
part of the time;
2. That the parents both share in making decisions on important issues dealing with
the children.

JOINT LEGAL CUSTODY

A parent's right and responsibility to make decisions about a child's health,
education, and care; a type of court order that allows either (or both) parents to make important
decisions about a child's health, education, and well being.

JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY

A type of court order that has a child spend about the same amount of time
living with both parents.

JUDGE

The person who is in charge of the court and who decides questions of law.

JUDGMENT

The decision of a court.

JUDGMENT NOTWITHSTANDING THE VERDICT

A judgment that sets aside a jury's
verdict. See MCR 2.610.

JURISDICTION

The court's authority or power to decide a case. There are two kinds of jurisdiction
and the court must have both to hear a case:
1. Subject Matter Jurisdiction: The legal power of a court to hear a certain kind of case;
for example, the circuit court has jurisdiction over divorce cases, and the district court has
jurisdiction over small claims cases.
2. Personal Jurisdiction: The legal power of a court over a person who is a party in a case before the court.

JURY

The group of people sworn to hear a case in court. The jury hears the evidence, decides which facts are true, and delivers a verdict (decides which side wins). There are 6 jurors for
district court in civil and criminal matters. In circuit court, there are 6 jurors for civil
matters and 12 for criminal matters. There are 6 jurors in probate court.

JURY INSTRUCTIONS

Directions given by the judge to the jury explaining to the jurors what law
they must use to decide the case.

JURY PANEL

The large group of potential jurors, from which the trial jury of 6 or 12 is
chosen.

The statutes that control juvenile delinquency proceedings,
designated proceedings, and child protective proceedings.

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROCEEDINGS

Legal actions in the family division of the
circuit court involving a person under age 17 who has
1. done something that would be a crime if an adult
did it, including a misdemeanor traffic offense;
2. run away from his or her home;
3. missed too much school or broken too many school rules; or,
4. disobeyed his parents when the parents are acting reasonably. See MCL 712A.2(a).